Dinner alone presents some unique problems for one who likes wine as much as I do - unless I can come across a place that serves decent wine, at decent prices, by the glass.

I am always on a relentless quest to find the best soft shell crab lunch or dinner in the area. Any seafood place willing to advertise that they have "spiders" is open territory for my try-out.

Tonight I had some very nice soft-shells (they'd been walking sideways before they were cleaned and sauted and mustard was included not removed) served on a bed of wilted greens, sliced fresh tomatoes on the side and a mango-chipotle sauce that was sweet and piquant more than sweet and hot. The sauce went very nicely with the crabs which had been sauted in a light tempura-like batter and then lightly seasoned with salt.

Before dinner I had the almost required Jack Daniels on the rocks, 'nuff said.

With dinner I had a glass of 1998 SIN ZIN. Fruity, peppery, big wonderful zinfandel.

The greens brought out the pepper in the wine and the mango sauce melded very nicely with the fruit. The batter sauted crab, not really mild because of the combination of the batter and the salt along with the sauce, was not in the least bit overpowered by the wine. I actually thought that the batter, saltiness and sweetness of the crab meat was a nice match with the fruity and spicy nose and palate of this wine.

The only other choice on their wine-by-the-glass menu, that I might have chosen, was a pinot grigio. But I just was not sure that it would sit properly on my palate along with the mango sauce and the greens.

Wine by the bottle was reasonable, but I just didn't want to bother with having to take an unfinished bottle home with me. Their wine list included Chardonnay, SB, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, CS, Merlot, Shiraz and some blends including one offering of a rhone-like blend.

Although I was tempted by their offering of Treana for just a few dollars above retail, I did not purchase the bottle (the wine is good but it is expensive, even at retail).